Cornea Transplant

Overview

Ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) at Mayo Clinic offer the latest technology and most advanced options available for cornea transplant, including full-thickness transplants (penetrating keratoplasty) and partial-thickness transplants (DSAEK). Mayo physicians carefully evaluate candidates for surgery to ensure the best chances for a successful outcome — clearer vision.

Mayo ophthalmologists have specialized training in cornea surgery in addition to general ophthalmology. Mayo Clinic researchers have conducted some of the most detailed studies of cornea function and transplant tissue survival in the United States for more than 30 years.

Evaluation

A good outcome depends on thorough evaluation of the eye before surgery. The eye surgeon conducts a comprehensive review of the patient's medical history. Special equipment is used to measure the shape, clarity and thickness of the cornea to determine if the patient is a good candidate for a full-thickness or partial-thickness transplant.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota

About Cornea Transplants

The cornea is the transparent dome-shaped structure at the front of the eye that arcs over the pupil (the black circle in the middle) and the iris (the colored part of the eye). The cornea bends (refracts) light rays entering the eye to focus precisely on the retina (a layer of tissue at the back of the eye) to create clear vision. The cornea must remain transparent and have regular curvature to refract light correctly to achieve good vision.

Disease, injury or a medical condition can cause the cornea to become cloudy, swollen, scarred or misshaped. A cornea transplant is often the only way to restore clear vision. Glasses and contact lenses alone are often not enough to correct these types of vision problems. Cornea transplants are the most common and successful type of human tissue transplant. More than 30,000 cornea transplants are performed in the United States each year.

Learn more about cornea transplants at www.MayoClinic.com.